Sliding table top



Nov. 17, 1953 K. J. DRAXLER SLIDING TABLE TOP Filed June 30, 1951 KARL J. DRAXLER,

lNr/ENTOR.

A T TOR/VEK Patented Nov. 17, 1953 4UNITED*STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,659,641 SLIDING TABLE Tor Karl A.l'.4lv)raxler, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application June 30, 1951, Serial No. 234,591

f 1 Claim. (Cl. 311-35) The invention relates to a floating table top and more particularly to improvements in my Patent No. 2,307,396, issued January 5, 1943, for sliding table top construction.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved sliding table top which can be adapted to existing tables. In the patented construction, the use of the spacing ring 3 and the retaining ring plate 4 and the rail '7, `and wherein the opening in the ring plate 4 is smaller than the diameter of the sub-table 2, practically require that these elements be associated in an original table in a furniture factory or the like.

According to the present invention the construction which makes it possible for the table top to slide is simplified in the form of a plurality of brackets which can be installed in an existing table without removing the table from the premises. This is of advantage in converting existing tables, for example, in a restaurant, so that they will have the sliding top feature. In this case, the original pedestal may be used and provided with a sub-top, the brackets having an oiset arm to receive the sub-top. The device may be installed simply with the use of a screw driver to fasten the brackets in place.

The brackets of the present invention have a number of advantages over the patented construction. For example, the brackets may be so positioned that the ends thereof lie at a greater diameter than that of the sub-top whereby the table top is removable. Also the brackets can be arranged in a small compact package for s hipment to users of the invention. A further advantage is that a bracket-type floating table top would be about one-third cheaper than the patented construction requiring only one element, namely, the bracket instead of several elements as described above.

While the invention is of particular advantage in converting existing tables, the invention, of course, may be also applied to original tables being made in a factory, table manufacturers being particularly interested in the above-mentioned advantage of simplicity of construction and reduction in cost as well as removability of the table top.

For further details of the invention reference may be made to the drawings wherein Fig. l is a plan view of a sliding table top according to the present invention, certain of the brackets, a part of the sub-top, certain felt pads and the pedestal being shown in broken lines with a part of the table top broken away showing the position of one bracket and other elements.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the brackets. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-13 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating various positions of the slidingtable top with reference to the seats of a tooth. Fig. 6 is a side view in elevation, partly in section of the bracket applied to a plastic type table with parts broken away.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the table top is here shown as rectangular although it could be of any other shape. The table top may have been removed from the pedestal 2 in the case of conversion of an existing table. The pedestal 2 is provided with a sub-top 3 xed to the pedestal 2 by screws like 4. 'I'he sub-top 3 is illustrated as having parallel opposite sides 5 and 6 and convex ends 'l and 8. To the top of each corner of the sub-top 3, is glued a thin felt pad as indicated at I0, Il, I2 and |35 The' table top rests on the felt'pads l0 toV I3 which pro` vide desirable sliding friction and adhesion and also provide a space between the table top and sub-top 3 to allow for warping of sub-top 3 which may be of plywood. The space created by the felt pads H3 to I3 is adapted to receive a high spot in the table top or sub-top 3 created by warp.. ing to prevent a pivotal spinning of the table top I on such a high spot.

As shown in Fig. 3, the bracket 20, which may be a metal casting or stamping made'out of any of a number of materials, is in the form of a base 2| having a flat upper surface 22 to rest against the under surface of the table top Base-2| has upright holes 23, 24 for screws like 25 in Fig. 2.

From the base 2| laterally projects an arm 26 having a flat upper surface 21 downwardly offset from surface 22 to provide a pocket or space into which the sub-top 3 is adapted to slide. Each arm like 26 extends downwardly from its base with a thickness substantially as great as the width of the base, this thickness tapering in height from a greater value at the base 2| to lesser values towards the outer end of the arm to provide greatest upright strength where the tipping force is greatest. The brackets like 20 are screwed in spaced relation around the bottom of table top I, preferably with the extremity like 28 of the arms like 26 slightly outside of the periphery 29 of the sub-top 3, whereby the table top can be lifted on" from sub-top 3, or mounted on it, when the table top is centered with the sub-top 3. As shown in Fig. 1, one bracket indicated at 30 may be arranged at one side, bracket 3l on the opposite side, two brackets 32 and 33 at one end and two brackets 34, 35, at the other end. The brackets 30 to 35 thus provide a pocket completely around the periphery of the sub-top 3, the depth of this pocket being the length of the surface 21. It is thus possible to slide the table top I in any direction as desired, with one or more of the brackets in position to underlie the subtop and limit the sliding movement and prevent the table top .fromtipping Figuresia," bric, d'progressively dandllgraphically illustrate the feature of saving valuable restaurant or barracks rloor space inherent in this invention, showing a rectangular table, ,although any other shaped table would accomplish the same. In Fig. 5d the overhangsofvthettable top amounts to the normal sideward sliding range of the table top. If this table ftopiisfmoved against its base as far as it will go, its edge will still be ilush with the edge of the seat as in Fig. 5b. Entering .such.a booth will not be` appre- 4ciably more diiiclt'th'an entering 'the booth shown. in. Fig. 5b, yet'there is a saving of`l door space;per booth amounting to 'twice"`the"over hang. "Figfa, shows agap between the edge'o'f the table top and"the"edge'of"the seat, an arrangement oiten usedwithJiixed r'e'staurantta'ble tops, to "facilitate "entrance of 1"the"booth "by patrons. The additionofthe noating 'table' top featurenow, permits the use. of bigger" table tops without .altering anything else, bringingthe 'advatage! of'. thebi'ggertable "top which' 'will 'hold more. dishes. "The advantage 'of replacement' of such narrow table tops,- would 'obviously"stimu late sale ,of the'. brackets "to` table 'manufacturers who wouldnll'thesetorders. Fig 5cfshowsan intermediate 'position which compromises between nooi- .space saving and comfort for" the 'patron .in enteringand leaving 'thebootn FigJ A2 shows Va tabletop' IV with a conventional metal --mouldinglSZ whichisfslightly dropped to partly obscurethe brackets'ZS'irom view. Fig. 6 shows a conventional plastic self-edge' 6D, glued againsta wooden build-up`6l extending below'the tabletopfBZ. In this case the .bracket bases'63 may beset into recesses cut'into'the wood-of the build-up 6l to permit'their setting-as close to the table top edges.V as possible. IThiSpermits'the use of a re'l'atively'large sub-topfwhchgives maximumsupport .to make this Vmovable table top G2 assteadyaspossible. V.Many `table tops have noedgng ofany kind.

Thesebrackets may..also..be..made ofdifferent lengths to give greater .sliding range to ...larger 4 table tops. As these table tops move, the bases are often anchored to the floor by screws 66 as shown in Fig. 2, making the sub-tops as rigid as the floor itself and eliminating Wobbling, also saving the greater expense of weight bases.

In addition to facilitating ingress into and egress from a booth, these floating table tops offer the advantage of adjustability of the table top for parties while seated, while the base remains in the samef"position. `Smallifpeople'.'rriay pull the .topito y"themselves, l.wlsiile Jar-ge people may push it away from themselves.

:The brackets permit sliding movement of the .tabletopin any horizontal direction, while limitlng 's'uch sliding movement and preventing the table'from tipping when one or more of the brackets underlie the sub top.

'Various Vother modifications may be made in thefdnvention without departing from the spirit of the following claim.

Inclaimz .-A sliding tabletop device comprising .arelatively .stationary lsub-top .and -a set of spaced brackets secured to the underside vof the. sliding table top, each of said brackets comprising a unitary .metal .member having a base..having a flat-uppersurface and a downwardly offset-.arm projecting. laterally'from said base, each-of .said arms .having a :substantially flat .upper surface substantially4 parallel to -said 'flat uppersurface of its base and each of said arms .havinga .thickness .which tapers from.-.a.greater valueatftheinner end of .said .arm Ato'lesser values towards vthe outer end of said. arm,.each of.said basesfhaving d an upright aperture thererthrough'for. fastening means extendinginto'said table top,each,of said arms extendingfreelyatany and all points under said sub-'top for' horizontals'liding movement. of said table top.

KARL .J .DRAXLER.

References' Cited innthe `iile' of this patent U NHED ,STATES PATENTS Number Name 'Date 821,440 Smith iMay22, 1906 826,669 Kindgen -Jl`11y'24, 1906 "1 ;007-;727 Gnken Nov. '7,'1911 1,288,560 fGOrdon 'Dec. 24, 1918 #2,180,219 -Wormley 'Nov. V1'4, 1939 12,307,396 A"Draxler `J an. 5, '1943 *2,3322291 BinZ Octr19," 1943 52,360,474 `Cederquist Oct. 17,1944 "2,543Q508 *Rick Feb."27, 1951 

